Migne Reading Room
PL 3 · cols. 1043–1046
Acta et monumenta celeberrimae de haereticorum baptismate disputationis, pars prior: prooemium; S. Stephani papae et martyris decretoriae sententiae; concilium Romanum sub S. Stephano celebratum
Editors' preface
ACTA ET MONUMENTA CELEBERRIMAE DE HAERETICORUM BAPTISMATE DISPUTATIONIS.
ACTS AND RECORDS OF THE MOST CELEBRATED DISPUTE CONCERNING THE BAPTISM OF HERETICS.
PARS PRIMA.
PART ONE.
PRAECIPUA VETERUM MONUMENTA QUAE SUPERSUNT DE BAPTISMATE HAERETICORUM.
THE PRINCIPAL ANCIENT RECORDS THAT SURVIVE CONCERNING THE BAPTISM OF HERETICS.
S. STEPHANI PAPAE ET MARTYRIS DECRETORIAE SENTENTIAE.
DECISIVE JUDGEMENTS OF ST STEPHEN, POPE AND MARTYR.
PROOEMIUM.
PREFACE.
Dolendum sane est ad nos usque non devenisse quascumque in his rerum tempestatibus beatissimus Stephanus papa I scripsit epistolas, sive ad Africanos, sive ad Orientales episcopos; quinimo et mirandum nullam omnino, exceptis tantum pauculis sententiis, superfuisse: cum interea nec oblivii injuria, nec edacitate temporum exciderint nonnulli quorum anonymorum libelli longe humiliores, multoque
It is indeed to be lamented that whatever letters the most blessed Pope Stephen I wrote in these storms of affairs, whether to the Africans or to the Eastern bishops, have not come down to us; nay, it is even to be wondered at that none at all has survived, save only a very few sentences: while meanwhile neither through the injury of oblivion nor through the devouring of time have there perished some little books of certain anonymous writers, far humbler, and much
Editors' notes and page, col. 1043
Page
- running head: 1043 DE HÆRETICORUM BA[cut off at image edge]
- marginal letters: A ‹nia vestra in charitate›; B ‹suam Ecclesiam, pretioso›
- old-edition numerals: 1008 after ‹sanctam›
- other: column begins with fragment "nia" (rest of "omnia" from the previous column); last word "defen-" hyphenated across the column break. "vocem" is printed with a damaged or turned first o (looks like v-ɔ-cem); set as vocem, unsure. References are set as printed although Luc. XII (the quotation is Luke 21:19) and I Cor. XV (the quotation is 2 Thess. 3:1) do not match the quoted texts. B stands between the lines "suam Ecclesiam" and "redemptam". Full-width lines below the text block are not set: the title "ACTA ET MON[...] / CELEBERRIMÆ DE HÆRETICORUM B[...]", "PARS PRI[...]", "PRÆCIPUA VETERUM MONUMEN[...]", "DE BAPTISMATE HÆR[...]", "S. STEPHANI PAPÆ E[...]", "DECRETORIÆ SENT[...]", the heading "PROOEMIUM." (it is part of the same full-width block, so it is not set even though it looks complete), and the editors' prooemium lines beginning "Dolendum sane est ad nos usque", which are cut off at the right edge.
- other: page shared with PL003/decretales_stephano_ascriptae; this file is a copy of its notes (QA keeps this unit's own)
- running head: 1043 DE HAERETICORUM BAPTISMATE. 1044
- marginal letters: (none) in the full-width band; the page's A (beside "dant. ruere faciat" / "nia vestra in charitate") and B (beside "admodum dolentes" / "redemptam") stand in the two-column part above, which belongs to the preceding unit
- old-edition numerals: (none) in this unit; bold 1008 after "sanctam" stands in the two-column part above (preceding unit)
- other: only the full-width band is set here (the two-column text above, ending "Data Nonis Aprilis ... (Anno Christi 255).", belongs to the preceding unit and is not set). The page prints PARS PRIMA (not PRIOR). The title is printed in two typographic lines (ACTA ET MONUMENTA / CELEBERRIMAE ...), and the sub-caption in two (PRAECIPUA ... SUPERSUNT / DE BAPTISMATE HAERETICORUM.), each set as one caption. "quorum" printed so (for quorumdam?), kept as printed; UNSURE whether a misprint. The preface breaks mid-sentence at "multoque", continuing "exilioris tenoris" at the top of col 1045; the English ends mid-sentence accordingly. This whole band is editors' prose (the unit's layer 1).
Editors' notes and page, col. 1044
Page
- running head: 1043 DE HAERETICORUM BAPTISMATE. 1044
- marginal letters: (none) in this unit; the page's A and B stand in the two-column part above (preceding unit)
- old-edition numerals: (none)
- other: col 1044 carries no text of this unit: the unit's text on page 573 is the full-width band at the foot of the page (the title of the Acta et monumenta, PARS PRIMA, the heading of Stephen's decretoriae sententiae, PROOEMIUM and the opening of the editors' preface), set whole under the rail of 1043 (see c1043_a.md); it is editors' matter. The two-column text above the band belongs to the preceding unit (PL003/decretales_stephano_ascriptae), whose apparatus is kept in that unit's notes.
exilioris tenoris, ac momenti: cumque aliunde tota ab imis sedibus ob gravissimam hanc litem commota Ecclesia fuerit, indeque in sanctam Petri Sedem intenta, quaecumque pontificalia placita, decretave arrectis auribus accipere debuerit. Eo ergo diligentius colligenda sunt, quotquot emerserint, Stephani Papae sententiae ex epistolis Cypriani et Firmiliani excerptae; palmares porro ac merito dictae decretoriae, quippe quae, licet hinc et hinc renitentibus maximae hac meretissimae auctoritatis viris, ingentem demum litem diremerint ac paulo post fuerint ab omni quaque patet Eccclesia acceptae, amplexae firmiter ac perpetuo servatae. Haec vero sancti Pontificis effata dum e Firmiliani litteris potissimum eruimus, neutiquam in animo est ipsam Firmiliani epistolam authenticam aut ratam habere. Esto sub judice lis integra, tantumque velimus liceat, ex hoc fonte vel dubio vel disturbato exhaurire sententias illas quae venerandam sapiunt vetustatem, quasque vafer interpolator ex antquis instrumentis in novella νοθείων farragine intrudere potuit.
of slighter tenor and moment; and since, on the other hand, the whole Church had been shaken from its lowest foundations by this most grave dispute, and, intent therefore upon the holy See of Peter, must have received with ears pricked up whatever pontifical rulings or decrees [were issued], all the more diligently, then, are the sentences of Pope Stephen to be gathered, as many as have come to light, excerpted from the letters of Cyprian and Firmilian; sentences, moreover, of the first rank and deservedly called decisive, since, although men of the greatest and most deserved authority resisted on this side and on that, they at length settled a huge dispute, and shortly afterwards were accepted by the Church wherever it extends, embraced, and firmly and perpetually kept. But while we draw out these pronouncements of the holy Pontiff chiefly from the letter of Firmilian, it is by no means our intention to hold the letter of Firmilian itself as authentic or valid. Let the whole dispute remain under judgement; we would wish only that it be permitted to draw from this source, whether doubtful or disturbed, those sentences which savour of venerable antiquity, and which a crafty interpolator could have thrust from ancient documents into a new farrago of spurious pieces.
Uuus ac necessarius controversiarum fidei finis.
The one and necessary end of controversies of faith.
Stephanus de episcopatus sui loco gloriatur et se successionem Petri tenere contendit, super quem fundamenta Ecclesiae collata sunt (Firmil. Epist.).
Stephen glories in the place of his episcopate and contends that he holds the succession of Peter, upon whom the foundations of the Church were laid (Firmil. Epist.).
II. Palmarc juris principium.
II. The foremost principle of law.
Si quis ergo a quacumque haeresi venerit ad nos, NIHIL INNOVETUR, NISI QUOD TRADITUM EST, ut manus illi imponatur in poenitentiam, cum ipsi haeretici proprie alterutrum ad se venientes non baptizent, sed communicet tantum (Cypr. Epist. LXXIV).
If therefore anyone comes to us from any heresy whatever, LET NOTHING BE INNOVATED EXCEPT WHAT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN, namely that a hand be laid upon him unto penance, since the heretics themselves properly do not baptize one another when they come over to them, but only admit [them] to communion (Cypr. Epist. LXXIV).
III. Traditionis apostolicae testimonium de haereticorum baptismate.
III. The testimony of apostolic tradition concerning the baptism of heretics.
. . . Quasi apostoli eos qui ab haeresi veniant baptizari prohibuerint et hoc custodiendum posteris tradiderint (Firmil. Epist.).
. . . As though the apostles had forbidden those who come from heresy to be baptized, and had handed this down to posterity to be observed (Firmil. Epist.).
IV. Testimonii intrinseca argumenta.
IV. The intrinsic arguments of the testimony.
Stephanus et qui illi consentiunt, contendunt dimissionem peccatorum et secundam nativitatem in haereticorum baptismo procedere, apud quos etiam ipsi confitentur Spiritum sanctum non esse, simulque unum nobis atque haereticis baptisma esse.... Non putant quaerendum esse quis sit ille qui baptizaverit eo quod qui baptizaverit, gratiam consequi potuerit invocata Trinitate nominum Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti... Vult Stephanus his qui apud haereticos baptizantur, adesse praesentiam et sanctimoniam Christi... Multum proficit nomen Christi, ut quicumque et ubicunque in nomine Christi baptizatus fuerit, consequatur statim gratiam Christi (Firmil. Epist. passim).
Stephen and those who agree with him contend that the remission of sins and the second birth come about in the baptism of heretics, among whom even they themselves confess that the Holy Spirit is not, and at the same time that there is one baptism for us and for the heretics.... They do not think it needs to be asked who it is that has baptized, because he who has baptized could obtain grace by the invocation of the Trinity of the names of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... Stephen holds that for those who are baptized among the heretics the presence and holiness of Christ is at hand... The name of Christ avails much, so that whoever has been baptized in the name of Christ, and wherever, obtains forthwith the grace of Christ (Firmil. Epist. passim).
V. Clausula.
V. Conclusion.
HAERESIS QUIDEM PARIT ET EXPONIT; EXPOSITOS AUTEM ECCLELIA SUSCIPIT (Firmil. Epist.). EDD.
HERESY INDEED GIVES BIRTH AND EXPOSES; BUT THE CHURCH TAKES UP THOSE EXPOSED (Firmil. Epist.). THE EDITORS.
CONCILIUM ROMANUM SUB S. STEPHANO CELEBRATUM.
Roman Council celebrated under St Stephen.
EX LIBELLO SYNODICO.
From the Libellus Synodicus.
Σύνοδος θεία καὶ ἱερὰ τοπικὴ, ἐν Ῥώμῃ συναθροισθεῖσα ὑπὸ Στεφάνου τοῦ ἱερομάρτυρος πάππα· ἀποκηρύξασα τοὺς ἐν τῇ Ἀφρικῇ συνόδῳ παραλόγως ἐπικεχειρηκότας ἀναβαπτίζειν τοὺς ἐκ πάσης αἱρέσεως προσερχομένους τῇ καθολικῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ.
A divine and sacred local synod, assembled in Rome under Stephen the holy martyr, pope; which proscribed those who in the synod in Africa had unreasonably undertaken to rebaptize those coming over to the Catholic Church from every heresy.
Synodus divina et sacra provincialis, Romae collecta a Stephano sancto martyre et papa; quae eos qui in Africana synodo sine ratione concesserant eos rebaptizari qui ex quacunque haeresi ad catholicam accederent Ecclesiam, abdicavit.
A divine and sacred provincial synod, gathered at Rome by Stephen, holy martyr and pope; which repudiated those who in the African synod had without reason granted that those should be rebaptized who came over to the Catholic Church from any heresy whatever.
Editors' notes and page, col. 1045
Footnotes
(1) [Variorum notae; called at EX LIBELLO SYNODICO] Duo erant, inquit Augustinus in libro de unico Baptismo, cap. 14, eminentissimarum eeclesiarum, Romanae scilicet et Carthaginensis, episcopi, Stephanus et Cyprianus, ambo in unitate catholica constituti. Erat ea tempestate magnum schisma in Ecclesia propter doctrinam de rebaptizatione, quam olim Afri acceperant ab Agrippino, Carthaginensi episcopo, et quam S. Cyprianus admodum pervicaciter defendebat. Tunc papa Stephanus Romae synodum provincialem collegit, ut ait auctor Synodici, ubi cum caeteris quidem collegis suis, ut loquitur Vincentius, sed tamen pro caeteris, in eam doctrinam invectus est. Denique, ex ea synodo, ut apparet, celebrem epistolam ad Africam misit; quae sane nunc non exstat integra, sed tantum definitio, quam in Epistola LXXIV ad Pompeium nobis conservavit S. Cyprianus: « Si quis ergo a quacunque haeresi venerit ad nos, nihil innovetur nisi quod traditum est, ut manus illi imponatur in poenitentiam; cum ipsi haeretici proprie alterutrum ad se venientes non baptizent, sed communicant tantum. » Istius Stephani epistolae meminerunt Eusebius, lib. VII, cap. 3, et Vincentius Lirinensis in suo Commonitorio.
(1) "There were two bishops," says Augustine in the book On the One Baptism, ch. 14, "of the most eminent churches, namely the Roman and the Carthaginian, Stephen and Cyprian, both established in Catholic unity." At that time there was a great schism in the Church on account of the doctrine of rebaptism, which the Africans had formerly received from Agrippinus, bishop of Carthage, and which St Cyprian defended most obstinately. Then Pope Stephen gathered a provincial synod at Rome, as the author of the Synodicon says, where, together indeed with his other colleagues, as Vincent puts it, but yet ahead of the others, he inveighed against that doctrine. Finally, from that synod, as it appears, he sent a celebrated letter to Africa, which indeed does not now survive whole, but only its definition, which St Cyprian has preserved for us in Letter LXXIV, to Pompeius: "If therefore anyone comes to us from any heresy whatever, let nothing be innovated except what has been handed down, namely that a hand be laid upon him unto penance; since the heretics themselves properly do not baptize one another when they come over to them, but only admit [them] to communion." This letter of Stephen is mentioned by Eusebius, book VII, ch. 3, and by Vincent of Lérins in his Commonitorium.
Page
- running head: 1045 PARS I. — MONUMENTA VETERUM. 1046
- marginal letters: (none)
- old-edition numerals: 1010 before ‹II. Palmarc juris principium›; 1011-1012 before ‹CONCILIUM ROMANUM›
- note call: (1) after ‹EX LIBELLO SYNODICO›, not set in the source (call to the foot apparatus)
- other: the whole page is editors' matter (the end of the editors' PROOEMIUM, the editors' captions I–V signed EDD., and the Synodicon's notice of the Roman council), set in layer 1.
- other: misprints set as printed: Uuus (for Unus), hac (for ac), Palmarc (for Palmare), communicet (for communicent), ECCLELIA (for ECCLESIA); also in the file as printed per the volunteers, in the right half of the line (not seen by Q3): meretissimae, Eccclesia, antquis. In footnote (1): eeclesiarum (for ecclesiarum).
Editors' notes and page, col. 1046
Footnotes
(1) ‹anchor: EX LIBELLO SYNODICO› · call in col 1046 (in the heading, which spans both columns; the notes are headed "Variorum notae")
Duo erant, inquit Augustinus in libro de unico Baptismo, cap. 14, eminentissimarum ecclesiarum, Romanae scilicet et Carthaginensis, episcopi, Stephanus et Cyprianus, ambo in unitate catholica constituti. Erat ea tempestate magnum schisma in Ecclesia propter doctrinam de rebaptizatione, quam olim Afri acceperant ab Agrippino, Carthaginensi episcopo, et quam S. Cyprianus admodum pervicaciter defendebat. Tunc papa Stephanus Romae synodum provincialem collegit, ut ait auctor Synodici, ubi cum caeteris quidem collegis suis, ut loquitur Vincentius, sed tamen pro caeteris, in eam doctrinam invectus est. Denique, ex ea synodo, ut apparet, celebrem epistolam ad Africam misit; quae sane nunc non exstat integra, sed tantum definitio, quam in Epistola LXXIV ad Pompeium nobis conservavit S. Cyprianus: « Si quis ergo a quacunque haeresi venerit ad nos, nihil innovetur nisi quod traditum est, ut manus illi imponatur in poenitentiam; cum ipsi haeretici proprie alterutrum ad se venientes non baptizent, sed communicant tantum. » Istius Stephani epistolae meminerunt Eusebius, lib. VII, cap. 3, et Vincentius Lirinensis in suo Commonitorio.
"There were," says Augustine in his book On the One Baptism, chapter 14, "two bishops of most eminent churches, namely the Roman and the Carthaginian, Stephen and Cyprian, both established in catholic unity." There was at that time a great schism in the Church over the doctrine of rebaptism, which the Africans had long before received from Agrippinus, bishop of Carthage, and which St Cyprian defended most stubbornly. Then Pope Stephen gathered a provincial synod at Rome, as the author of the Synodicon says, where, "together indeed with the rest of his colleagues," as Vincent puts it, "but yet ahead of the rest," he inveighed against that doctrine. Finally, from that synod, as it appears, he sent a celebrated letter to Africa; it does not now survive entire, but only its ruling, which St Cyprian has preserved for us in Letter 74, to Pompeius: "If anyone, then, comes to us from any heresy whatever, let nothing be innovated beyond what has been handed down, that a hand be laid on him for penance; since the heretics themselves properly do not baptize one another when they come over to each other, but only admit them to communion." This letter of Stephen is mentioned by Eusebius, book VII, chapter 3, and by Vincent of Lérins in his Commonitorium.
(printed under page 574)
Page
- other: col 1046 is the right-hand number of a full-width page, set whole under col 1045 (corpus full_width rule); nothing of its own: pointer only